Sending emails with blind carbon copies (BCC) is a crucial skill for maintaining privacy and managing large email lists. This guide will walk you through how to BCC in Outlook, regardless of whether you're using the desktop application or the web version.
Understanding the Power of BCC
Before diving into the "how-to," let's clarify why you'd use BCC. BCC'ing recipients hides their email addresses from everyone else on the email list. This is essential for:
- Protecting privacy: Prevent recipients from seeing each other's contact information. This is especially important when sending emails to large groups of people.
- Managing unsubscribes: Prevents recipients from seeing a long list of other recipients and subsequently collecting emails for spamming.
- Sending mass emails: Makes sending mass emails easier and more secure.
How to BCC in Outlook Desktop
The process for adding BCC recipients in the Outlook desktop application is straightforward:
- Compose a new email: Click "New Email" or press Ctrl+Shift+M.
- Add recipients: Enter the main recipient's email address in the "To" field.
- Access the BCC field: Look for the "Bcc" field. It might be hidden initially. You'll usually find it by clicking on the "Options" tab (sometimes labelled similarly, such as "Show Fields"). If you can't find it, you may need to expand the composing window.
- Add BCC recipients: Enter the email addresses of your blind carbon copy recipients in the "Bcc" field, separating each address with a semicolon (;).
- Complete and send: Add your subject line, message body, and any attachments, then click "Send".
Important Note: Recipients in the BCC field will receive the email, but their addresses won't be visible to the recipients in the "To" or "Cc" fields.
How to BCC in Outlook Web App (OWA)
Using the Outlook web app (accessed through a web browser) is slightly different but equally easy:
- Compose a new email: Click "New" to start a new message.
- Add recipients: Add the primary recipient(s) in the "To" field.
- Locate the BCC field: The "Bcc" field is usually visible in the compose window, often near the "To" and "Cc" fields.
- Add BCC recipients: Enter the BCC email addresses, separating each with a semicolon (;).
- Send your email: Once you've added your subject, body, and attachments, click "Send".
Troubleshooting BCC Issues
If you're having trouble finding the BCC field, try these steps:
- Check your Outlook version: The location and visibility of the BCC field might vary slightly depending on the version of Outlook you're using.
- Expand the compose window: Sometimes, the BCC field is hidden until the compose window is enlarged.
- Consult Outlook Help: Your Outlook application has built-in help resources that can provide more specific guidance.
By mastering the art of using BCC, you'll enhance your email communication's privacy and efficiency. Remember to always use BCC responsibly and ethically.
